Step 2: Insulate the tin

This step is extremely important. If any parts of your project comes in contact with the metal tin, the electrical aspect of the project will short out.

Use some electrical tape to insulate your tin. Just tape some on the bottom, sides, and wherever you feel that the components may be vulnerable to the metal tin.

Step 3: Drill your top hole

This hole is for your switch. On your tin, you can choose either side you want your switch to be on. I drilled my hole in the little circular groove that has a picture of the mint in it. I felt that it conformed to the finger well.

Or you can choose the other side.

Take your Dremel or hole cutting tool, and carefully make a hole. With this preliminary hole, take your switch and keep checking to see if it fits. You do not want to make it too big. So take your time, there is no rush.

If you do not own a Dremel, you can use a pocket knife, or a tool to poke a hole. THe spin it around to grind out the hole. But make sure you test to make sure you do not make the hole too big.

i cant believe im actually saying this but radioshack does have some good stuff. like not components but tools. And if my soldering iron breaks or somethin like that... its easier to have bought it from radioshack than online in some cases (again convenience). i also found out that they have this wire that i want to use for making vias in pcbs, and no other place had it, so they are ok i guess... Im also getting started with pcbs right now (as u might have just figured out :) ), so allelectronics and digikey look like they will be coming into the picture... they look pretty good so far. but yeah if all you do is like the more simple electronics stuff (me in the past) then goldmine definitely rules.

Well you can attach the wires to the battery with tape or hot glue. Solder doesn't work the best on batteries. And on the LED and switch, you can wrap the wires around the leads instead of using solder.

You know what would be kind of cool, is if you did as Elflord said for a laser!! xD Use the switch you have for the LED. I know laser diodes are harder to come by, and harder to wire.. and need more voltage... But the guy who created computers (PCs I mean ** xD) did it, and they all thought he was crazy. Just an idea.

I try. Mmm. I'm trying this sorta... BUT in a flashdrive. Thumbdrive. The case.. I'll post pictures and maybe even an Instructable... Ooooo {*Thinks* "EVERYONE CLAP"} Mmm. Also a funny idea is put Mini 2mm LEDs (only require .5 voltage into paintballs.. Only hard thing would be actually PUTTING them in.. You could just tape them on one side and play in the dark. It'd be like "OH CRAP" Pitch black. Except for a blue LED. Might hurt, but that's what masks are for.

Oh... Just get a DVD Burner {16x} like KipKay, then an AixiZ module and wire em together. Then just drill a hole the size of the diode into the Altoids tin, and just tape down the module.. Then again, the tin probably isn't big enough. Oh and I'm wrong, a Commercial Laser Pointer uses about 4.5 volts.